(Flashback)
Anastasia scoffed as she deftly folded Ivan’s rumpled clothes and placed them inside the mahogany closet. “I don’t need a grandiose wedding, Ivan,” she remarked, her eyes rolling at his dishevelled room. “And how do you manage to make such a mess all the time? Don’t tell me you’re too busy to at least make your bed.”
Ivan chuckled, sneaking up behind her and enveloping her in his embrace, planting a gentle kiss beneath her ear. “I don’t care about the wedding, my love. I just want you as my wife so I can make love to you for hours on end.”
Anastasia blushed at his bold words, but she relished in his possessive touch, content to let him hold her tight. “And what about what I want?” she countered, teasingly. “What if I don’t like you hovering over me like a bee all the time? What if I want you to focus on your work and leave me be?”
Ivan raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a mischievous smirk. With a sudden movement, he pinned her against the wall, his lips finding the soft, delicate skin of her neck. “Oh, darling,” he breathed, his voice laced with desire. “Once you experience my touch, you won’t want to leave the bed until I’ve had my fill of you.”
(Flashback Ends)
* * *
[IVAN]
As I enter the claustrophobic space, the damp walls closing in on me, the pungent odor of sweat and fear hits me like a wave. I hear the man’s labored breathing and the rattle of chains as he struggles against his restraints.
The flickering light casts eerie shadows across his face, making his features appear distorted and menacing. I fix him with a cold stare, knowing that he is just a pawn in my game of power. But for now, he is the only lead I have. I take a step forward, ready to do whatever it takes to get the information I need.
As I walk towards the man, I notice the thick ropes that bind his hands and feet to the chair. His eyes flit around the dimly-lit room, scanning for any means of escape. His thin frame is wracked with tremors, his ragged breathing betraying his anxiety.
Drawing closer, I see the beads of sweat on his forehead and the tremble in his voice as he speaks. His beady eyes dart towards me, revealing his fear of the unknown.
Leaning in, I speak in a low, menacing tone that echoes through the empty room. “Tell me, where are they hiding?”
The man’s Adam’s apple bobs in his throat as he swallows hard. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stammers, making me roll my eyes.
My hand shoots out and clutches his shirt collar tightly, yanking him towards me until our noses nearly touch. His eyes bulge in fear. The acrid scent of sweat and fear wafts from his trembling body and stings my nostrils.
With a swift motion, I snatch a pair of pliers from the nearby table. The shiny, metallic tool glitters malevolently under the dim light, casting long, sinister shadows across the room. I hold them up in front of his face, allowing the sharp edges to catch the light.
I growl in his face. “Do you take me for a fucking fool? You know something, and you’re going to tell me, this way or that.”
My eyes bore into his, daring him to resist. He doesn’t dare and swallows instead.
“Speak up,” I warn him one last time, my patience wearing thin. “Or I’ll make you wish you had never been born, believe me.”
The man’s face contorts in a mix of agony and terror. Beads of sweat form on his forehead, trickling down his face like tiny rivulets. “I—I think you got the wrong man,” he looks around, probably wondering if someone would believe him. “I’m just a com—common man. I would never do anything to screw up with people like you.”
That’s it. I’ve run out of my damn patience. I toss the pliers away and take out my gun instead. I want this man dead.
“Okay, okay, okay,” he prattles, crying. “I’ll tell you…whatever I can. Please don’t hurt me. Please.”
I lean back slightly and push the mouth of the gun right in the middle of his eyes. “Good. Let’s start with your name.”
The man hesitates, his eyes flickering nervously. “It’s… it’s Sergei.”
“Okay, Sergei,” I say, nodding slowly. “Now, tell me everything you know about Anastasia. Where the hell is she?”
Sergei licks his lips, his eyes darting around the room again. “I… I don’t know,” he stammers. But when I curl my finger around the trigger his face pales. “I mean, I don’t know much. I swear. I barely had a word with her. She wasn’t the most talkative person around. Mostly kept to herself.”
Of course, she did. She wouldn’t have made it this long hiding from me if she hadn’t been too damn careful. “Then tell me whatever you know.”
“That’s all I can tell you. My wife tried to befriend her, even inviting her and her kids to my son’s birthday party, but they never showed up. She always had an excuse ready. Please, now let me go. I told you everything I know.”
“Not everything apparently,” I trace the gun down his cheek before jabbing at his throat with it. “Don’t waste my time, Sergei. I would hate to kill a good man like you. Despite the common belief, I don’t actually enjoy the gore anymore than it’s absolutely necessary. And nothing pisses me off more than a man who doesn’t value my time.”
Sergei’s pupils dilate with horror, making them appear like black holes in his wide-open eyes. His breaths become ragged, and he stumbles over his words as he frantically tries to appease me. “No. Please. No. I’ll—I’ll do anything you want. Okay. Okay. There was something I overheard. It was two nights before they left my property. A man came to see her, kept talking about a cabin in the woods. Somewhere on the outskirts of the town. She called him Nik, I think? He was tall and had mean eyes.”
I take a moment to process the information.
Perhaps that’s all I’m about to get from him. If I grilled him anymore, he’ll surely piss in his pants, and that’s not the sight I’m looking forward to. “I believe you. Good work, Sergei. You just made your son real proud.”
With a flick of my hand that holds the gun, I signal my men to take the crying man away. He’s of no use to me anymore. Besides, he was right. He’s just a common man who has a lot more to lose than to give.
Climbing the stairs to the villa, I soak in the quiet that wraps around the place. A vast field of untouched snow spreads out as far as I can see, cutting me off from the world. The only sounds messing with the calm are the crunch of my boots on the frozen ground and the rustling of tree branches.
I climb into the back of my car, and as the door shuts behind me with a satisfying thud, I take a deep breath. My eyes latch onto the small patch of greenery where my beloved Anastasia had often basked in the sunshine. I whisper to the wind, “I’m coming for you, malysh. No more hiding. I’ll bring you home. The one place you truly belong.”
(Flashback)Ivan’s eyes blazed with fury as he grabbed Ana by the hair, yanking her head back to face him. “Ana!” he growled, his grip tight and unyielding. “Don’t you dare lie to my face. Tell me where he is. Tell me now, and I promise I won’t hurt you. But if you keep playing these games with me, I swear I’ll burn this whole place to the ground!”Ana’s eyes filled with tears as she struggled against the pain, the sharp pull of her hair almost too much to bear. “I don’t know anything,” she hissed, her fingers clawing at his hand, trying to pry it loose. “I swear it. The fact that you even think I’d lie to you makes me feel like you don’t know me at all. I love you, Ivan. But the way you treat me makes me wonder if you love me at all. What happened to us?”(Flashback Ends)* * *[ANASTASIA]“Hey there, little guy,” I said to Ivan Jr. as I knelt down in front of him, my heavy overcoat weighing me down. His blue eyes shone with innocence and curiosity as he looked up at me. “I’m going t
(Flashback)As the newlyweds leaned in for their first kiss as husband and wife, the atmosphere was electric with excitement and joy. Ivan’s hand gently cupped Anastasia’s cheek as they closed their eyes, savoring the moment. The guests erupted in cheers and applause as they finally sealed their love with a kiss.Anastasia pulled back slightly and looked up at Ivan with a radiant smile, feeling as if she were on cloud nine. “I can hardly believe this day has come,” she said, her voice full of happiness.Ivan smiled down at her, his eyes filled with love and adoration. “Believe it, my dear,” he said with a chuckle. “You’re now officially my wife.”Anastasia playfully swatted his arm, a grin spreading across her face. “As if I’d want it any other way,” she said, her tone teasing.As they leaned in for another kiss, the intensity of their emotions grew stronger. This time, their kiss was deeper, more passionate, and filled with the promise of forever. As they pulled back, Ivan rested his
(Flashback)“Why are you doing this?” Anastasia sobbed, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and disbelief. She stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the lifeless body on the floor, the crimson pool spreading slowly, staining the once pristine carpet.Her tears flowed freely down her cheeks, mingling with the horror that gripped her soul. The man she had once loved and married now sat casually on the couch, his foot resting on the fallen man’s chest, as if it were nothing more than an inconsequential event.A twisted smirk played upon his lips, his eyes gleaming with a perverse delight. The cruelty emanating from him sent shivers down her spine. It was as if he derived pleasure from the pain he caused, reveling in the power he held over life and death.“Don’t be too upset, malysh,” he taunted, his voice dripping with malice. “Next time, just remember to inform me before you plan to leave the house. I hate surprises.” His callousness was chilling, contrasting starkly with the tragedy that
(Flashback)Anastasia’s heart swelled with love and anticipation as she watched Ivan sweep her up in his strong arms, her white wedding dress cascading behind her as they made their way into the luxurious mansion that he had built just for them. She felt like a princess, floating on a cloud of pure happiness as he carried her up the grand staircase and into their new bedroom, a sanctuary for only the two of them.At the door, Ivan turned to face her and used his back to push it open, revealing a room bathed in soft candlelight and adorned with all of Anastasia’s favourite things. He gently placed her on the plush bed, crawling atop her as he lavished her with tender kisses on her cheeks, forehead, and the tops of her eyes.“I have waited for this moment for so long, malysh,” he murmured, pulling her close and helping her out of her wedding gown. He then turned her so that she faced away from him, marveling at the sight of his stunning wife’s bare skin with his dark eyes. “So beautiful
(Flashback)Anastasia recoiled, the force of it almost cracking the muscles of her face, as a glass shattered against the floor, crimson wine gushing forth and saturating the cursed red carpet.Ivan’s wrath knew no bounds as he sent delicate crockery hurtling from the dining table, their demise echoing off the walls, sending her flinching once again.Tears welled up, threatening to spill forth, but she held them back, clenching her fists tightly and digging her sharp nails into her skin. She refused to let her vulnerability show.Ivan turned abruptly, fixing her with a scorching glare. Despite the frigid air outside, his brow was drenched in sweat, his skin glistening under the light, and his dark eyes reflecting the madness of his anger.“Was that necessary?” she managed to ask, her words a fragile plea for understanding.“It was,” he retorted sternly, striding past her. But before he left her side, he leaned in close, his voice laced with menace as he whispered into her ear. “Until
(Flashback)Despite the car remaining stationary in their mansion’s driveway for over an hour, Ivan’s desire for his wife showed no signs of waning. His lips eagerly explored her neck, shoulder, and mouth, evoking moans of pleasure from Anastasia.Straddling him on his lap in the car’s backseat, she couldn’t resist the passion he ignited within her. Although they had been married for just a month, it felt as if they had exchanged vows only yesterday.“We should probably go inside,” Anastasia moaned softly, reluctantly breaking their intimate embrace as she placed her hands on his warm chest.Ivan growled, unwilling to be separated from her even for a moment. “I want you right now, malysh. The thought of the distance between this car and the bed is killing me.”With determination, he unbuckled himself, setting himself free. Anastasia gasped as he slowly lowered her onto his arousal, causing her eyes to roll back and a sweet moan to escape her lips—a moan that he quickly silenced with a
(Flashback)Anastasia’s emotions on that day were far from happiness. Rather, she was overwhelmed with nerves, bordering on sheer terror. As she fixated on the pregnancy test, time seemed to stretch endlessly, and she felt a numbing sensation spreading through her body, accompanied by knots tightening and loosening in her stomach. It had only been three months since their wedding, and except for a few days in a month, Ivan and she were intimate almost every day, sometimes even twice.It was almost inevitable that she would become pregnant. But the question was: how would Ivan react? Would he even want kids this soon? They never really talked about it. Not explicitly at least. Ivan was always either too busy with his work—whatever that work entailed, as he never went into details—or he was home, occupied with his hands on her.Don’t get her wrong, she loved her husband more than anything. She loved the way he cherished her, made her feel and how careful he seemed to be while rocking he
(Flashback)They found themselves on the 16th floor of the Smolensky Passage department store, immersed in the mesmerizing panoramic view of the bustling Moscow city. Ivan placed his hand gently on the small of his wife’s back, guiding her towards the seat that offered the most stunning vista.Ana gasped in awe, her eyes sparkling beneath the dimly lit ambience as she absorbed the breathtaking scenery and the spaciousness surrounding them. “What is this place, Ivan? It’s absolutely stunning,” she exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder.For the occasion, he had booked the entire restaurant so he could treat his wife the way she deserved to be—like a queen. After the recent crossfire with the Yakov gang just a few days prior, Ivan couldn’t afford to be seen in public places with his wife. It wasn’t a matter of shame or embarrassment; it was simply a matter of safety. He hoped to keep their personal lives somewhat discreet until the intense conflict between the rival gangs subsided.How